08-03-2013, 10:28 PM | #61 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: What a "god"?
If you don't believe I exist even if I walk up to you and poke you in the chest, then you are insane. I loathe philosophical nonsense like that.
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08-03-2013, 10:30 PM | #62 | |
Untagged
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: What a "god"?
Quote:
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Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
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08-03-2013, 11:19 PM | #63 |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: a crooked, creaky manse built on a blasted heath
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Re: What a "god"?
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08-03-2013, 11:52 PM | #64 | ||
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Here on the perimeter, there are no stars
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Re: What a "god"?
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Quote:
'Nuff of that, guys. Let's keep the barrier between RPG-land and Reality a bit firmer, hm? |
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08-04-2013, 04:51 AM | #65 |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: a crooked, creaky manse built on a blasted heath
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Re: What a "god"?
Consider my part finished. I'll edit/delete.
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08-05-2013, 09:05 AM | #66 |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: What a "god"?
That is certainly relevant to making a game verse.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison |
08-05-2013, 09:20 AM | #67 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: What a "god"?
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"Insults" is a little strong. However Zeus is obviously not trancendent. In point of fact I rather think he has a distasteful personality. My favorites of the Olympians were Athena and Hestia. Attempts to make Hellenistic style paganism into an organized religion in the manner of Christianity or Zoroastrianism are a matter of historical record. I always thought Paul's "unknown god" in the sermon at the Areopagus was the God of Platonism. In this version, I believe the Olympians were made into avatars of a monotheistic or pantheistic God but it wasn't worked out before Christianity became more fashionable. Or if it was worked out it didn't matter; Platonism only appealed to philosophers.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison Last edited by jason taylor; 08-05-2013 at 09:36 AM. |
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08-05-2013, 09:29 AM | #68 |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: What a "god"?
Fraser's Golden Bough posited a social evolution from magic to religion to science. Magic he defined as emphasizing pseudotechnology dependent on ritual, and religion he defined as attempts to commune with superhuman spirits. Of course similar rituals are used for the first two simply because ritualism is a type of art and follows patterns. But when used for religion they would be for a different purpose. Religion X lights lamps to remember how their fathers were delivered from the tyranny of the evil Whatevers. Magic Y lights lamps because dark spirits are afraid of light. On this reasoning, the silly DnD style fantasies with wizards looking like mad scientists may have a glimpse of the truth.
In practice of course the evolutionary model of culture is flawed and all three are found in any culture. Not every culture has science in the sense of the scientific method but every culture has technology. It is however useful as a model. In a culture that emphasizes the "magical" though, the gods have weaknesses to exploit. Egyptian priests thought they could enslave their gods by knowing their true names.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison Last edited by jason taylor; 08-05-2013 at 09:33 AM. |
08-05-2013, 10:41 AM | #69 | ||
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
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Re: What a "god"?
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ETA: Kaufmann's thoughts on Monotheism vs. Paganism.
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“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius Last edited by Anders; 08-05-2013 at 10:52 AM. |
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08-05-2013, 12:25 PM | #70 | |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: What a "god"?
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That is an Awesome adventure idea: The quest for the true name of Zeus. Though Hades would be just as fun. Arguably the other gods will act to erase the name from your mind, but you can use their brother against them.
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